This is the story of Desperaux Tilling, a mouse in love with music, stories, and a princess named Pea. It is also the story of Miggery Sow, a slow-witted serving girl with a simple, impossible wish. These characters are about to embark on a journey that will lead them down into a horrible dungeon, up into a glittering castle, and ultimately, into each other's lives.

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Such a lovely story. The Amazon writeup says ages 7+, but I just finished reading this to my twin 6-year-olds. I did have to stop and explain some of the nuances, and some of the vocabulary, but they were hanging on every word -- and I looked forward to reading a couple of chapters every night before bedtime.

As some reviewers have pointed out, there are some dark and sad elements to the story. There is loss and betrayal and cruelty. If you are uncomfortable exposing your kids to that, you might want to read this yourself before reading it to them, and think about how you will talk about those things. But there is also courage and forgiveness and kindness, and a lot of heart. You should be prepared to take your kids on a deeper emotional and moral journey than you'll find in most children's books, and if you're up for that, this book is a great guide and a brilliant tale.

As huge fans of Kate DiCamillo and after seeing that the book received hundreds of positive reviews, we were ecstatic to start The Tale of Despereaux! We were immediately disappointed. The story is slow and dull and could not hold my upper elementary children’s attention. Then the story turned dark, really dark. Despite the deeply disturbing storyline, we pressed on through the first two sections of the book (the book is divided into 3 distinct sections). Section 2 continued to spiral down until we felt that the context was no longer appropriate for children. At several points in section 2, I had to read ahead because I was honestly afraid of how much darker the story was going to go and didn’t want to accidentally read something inappropriate aloud. We stopped at the end of section 2 and never finished the book. I would not recommend this book to anyone, and frankly, the positive reviews it received make me question all positive reviews on Amazon.

We are Rocky’s Book Club, composed of 3rd, 4th & 5th graders. We read the book, “The Tale of Despereaux” and this is what we thought of it.Our favorite parts were when Despereaux the brave mouse falls in love with the Princess, and he is willing to do anything to save her from the evil rats. There were evil rats, a death in a family and plenty of perfidy in this story. But as the quest goes on, Despereaux becomes a brave mouse. The one thing we would caution to other readers, is that some parts are emotional and could bring you to tears. And sometimes it can be confusing the way the story goes backwards and forwards from the present tense. Would we recommend this book? Yes, if you think you’d like a story about a brave, little mouse who has such a big quest ahead of him. We rate this book at 5 stars.

This book is incredibly dark and promotes evil and torture. It is also totally unconvincing in it's narrative. My 6 year old LOVED the authors other books - the Mercy Watson series and Because of Winn Dixie, but he and I had to stop reading this 25 pages in as it was so dull, so disturbing and hugely inappropriate for children. How did the Newbury committee gives this book the top honor for a CHILDREN'S book??!!

This is an honest post by me and Is not fake unlike others. Anyway, the tail of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo is one of my favorite books of all the others I've ever read. As you may know, Despereaux the mouse, is the man character of the book. But the other mice treated him like he was not part of them, (which it proofs that at the beginning) but the important thing is that he saved the day-- wait what?!?!?!?! I didn't think he would try to save the princess pea from rats who usually eat mice which in my opinion to risky and wouldn't do it even if I was dared but if she we're my friend like Despereaux I would have to am I right but it just changed everything after he went to save her. That part made me think that he was out of his mind and that would be suicide but I also thought since he had a weapon he could also defend himself from the rats but think of how many there could be, there could be hundreds maybe even thousands of rats down there but he did what he had to do and went to save her. Like I would or somebody else would, "never leave a friend behind in any situation even if it's near death"and Despereaux did just that to save the princess Pea. P.s. I loved the book and how it had these turning points in it!! Keep up the good work :D

This was a cute story that we listened to on our way across the Nevada desert traveling from California to Boise Idaho. Plenty of open space on this trip and plenty of time to listen to a good book. My kids ages 8-12 really enjoyed it, as did I. A family friendly book.

I was required to read this book for a college course in Children's literature. I'm so glad To have read it! It is beautifully written. I read it in just over 2 hours. I can't wait to read it to my daughters. Note: there is another review that states the book is good but with a vivid description on the miggery Sow character being beaten. The reviewer states that this may be very upsetting to young readers. This may be true.i found the passage to be inexcusable and tragic but not horribly violent or rape level. (the girl is boxed on the ears. And over the course of years is deafened).

Top international reviews

This is the best children's story I've read for a long long time! I love stories about animals, and I love stories about mice. Living in the country, it is not difficult for me to imagine little animals such as this as having little personalities with almost human traits! The illustrations - though somewhat faint and slightly 'misty' are a magic all their own - and quite delightful, and very interesting too when you look more closely! This is a truly wonderful book, and I don't often re-read novels, but I feel certain that before long I shall be SO wanting re-read this one!

This book has a good number of pages - but the writing is large, and the chapters very short which makes for lovely convenient breaks which I like - but be warned; your breaks shall not be very long! I found myself saying `just one more chapter' to myself before I would put it aside for any reasonable length of time! In fact, I was so delighted with this novel, I immediately went to look on Amazon, and purchased another by this same author! Now; you will understand the importance in this for me, when I say that I NEVER do this as a rule - no matter how good the book, and so this really must say something about this fabulous read!

The story is tremendously imaginative and full of atmosphere - little mice scuttling along skirting boards and inside wall crevices - rats in dungeons and so on, and whilst I do agree (to a point) about the little distractions when the author intervenes and talks as to the reader can be a little irritant (for those of you who have complained in their reviews about it) I too have to confess at suffering the same feeling initially, and though it did throw me just a little at the outset, I soon became used to it (quite more than I thought I would) and actually enjoyed that side of it eventually! After all; it's a long long time since anyone read me a story, and so I viewed it that way, and felt after all it was a nice and unique touch from this great children's writer, which made the whole read quite different and a whole new experience for me! I just LOVED the writer's touch when not only did she state that `Despereaux's' mother was a French mouse - but she went on to explain how a French mouse came to be in England! I thought that bit was quite enchanting and lovely!

Absolutely delightful, and I can well imagine many children being totally enthralled and immersed in the adventures of little `Despereaux' - the lovely `shrewish', yet brave little mouse!

LOVED IT - and for the first time in my life, it had me hoping there would be a second book! (normally I don't entertain them) Must say something!

What is the story about?This story is about a princess whose mother died because of a rat named Chiaroscuro,And a girl named Miggrey sow whose mother died when she was 6 years and her father had sold him to man who use take care of his shop for just a handful of cigarettes table cloth and hen, and she serve’s the palace and who is entertains foolish dreams .It also a story about a mouse with long ears and had his birth with his eyes opened named Desperaux

HOW WAS THE STORY?This story is incredibly cool , brilliant and enchanting and it is also the best story i have read and if anyone starts reading it he can’t put it down back, it also has the power to make us change our minds and it is full of charm, this is an heroic story of goodness and courage outsmart evil

WHICH IS THE FAVOURITE PART OF THE STORY?

The favorite part of mine in this story was the mouse Deperaux was born with his eyes open and how his parents, grandparents, sisters and brother were shocked. My second favorite part of mine in this was when the mouse Deperaux had made his way out of the dungeon , when the cook saw him and did not beat him instead he started laughing and he was surprised when the cook started crying because last when he saw the cook last time she had told Miggrey Sow the servant of the dungeon who use to take food over there , beat the mouse with knife and kill it the cook had said to Miggrey but instead she had only cut his tail . `

What Do You Think About The Story?The story Dexperaux is really a terrific story I think KATE DICALLIMO is imagining how will the world of a rat, a mouse who loved the princess, the king who use to play guitar and the servant of the dungeon whose mother died when she was 6 years and her father had sold him to man who use take care of his shop for just a handful of cigarettes table cloth and hen. Please read this story my dear friends I really suggest you to only read this book no other books or you can read other books of KATE DICALLIMO

My 5 year old and I absolutely loved this book. The moment it was finished he asked to read it over again. It is definitely not a simple book; the language can be advanced even for an adult, and many characters suffer trauma that is physical, psychological, maybe even existential. Had I read this book previously, I probably would have waited until my child was 6 or 7. Still, I loved the ending, which highlighted the healing power of vulnerability and empathy and granted most characters to a reasonable amount of redemption.

I read this story to my granddaughter when she was in grade 4 and now that she is graduating from high school I am giving it to her for a gift. She shas always said it was her favorite story and she has wanted a hard cover copy of it all these years. It is so well written and the reader can certainly identify with the brave young mouse and all of his adventures. It has suspense, humor, compassion, love and hope and much more. On the whole a well written book and when read aloud to a child, one can include accents that go along with the character Miggerty Sow.Lots of fun!

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